What does plummet mean?
To plummet means to fall or decrease suddenly and steeply. The word often describes a movement from a considerable height, but it is also widely used for rapid declines in prices, temperatures, confidence, popularity, or other quantities. Its force comes from the suggestion of speed and abruptness: a market can drift downward gradually, whereas it plummets when there is a sharp, often alarming fall. The verb is especially common in financial and economic contexts, as in “sales plummeted,” although it can apply to nearly anything that drops quickly. Historically, a plummet was a weight attached to a line to measure depth, drawing on the same word for lead from which “plumb” also derives. The modern verb preserves a vivid sense of rapid downward motion, while the older noun remains chiefly historical or specialized.
To fall or descend rapidly and steeply, or to decrease suddenly and sharply.
"The aircraft began to plummet as the engine lost power."
The word strongly conveys speed and abruptness and is often used in figurative descriptions of prices, confidence, or temperatures.
A weight, traditionally made of lead, suspended from a line and used to measure depth or establish a vertical level.
"The sailor cast the plummet overboard to determine the depth of the water."
The noun is now chiefly historical or technical; the verb is the word's dominant modern usage.
The plural applies to the historical or technical noun meaning a lead weight.
"The sounding plummets were lowered into the deep water."
A plummet began as a lead weight used to measure depth; today the word describes anything that dives suddenly and sharply downward.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does plummet come from?
The word comes from Middle English plummet, borrowed from Old French plumet, a diminutive of plomb meaning “lead.” That French word derives from Latin plumbum, the source of English plumb and plumbum. The noun originally referred to a lead weight used for measuring depth; the modern sense of rapid descent developed from the idea of something dropping swiftly like a weighted plummet.
Related word forms
How plummet is actually used
Usually strongly suggests a sudden, dramatic decrease rather than a gradual decline. It is common in financial and business reporting and can be used figuratively for emotions, confidence, standards, and levels of activity.
Easily confused with plummet
A plummet falls or drops rapidly, whereas a plumb line is a weighted line used to establish a vertical depth or level.
A plummet is a rapid downward movement, while a plume is a projecting feather or a rising column of smoke or steam.